Italian cuisine

Family style Italian at Buca di Beppo

/ Roadtirementvintage / 22 Comments

In honor of our granddaughter’s High School graduation, our Columbus Ohio family got together at one of the many Buca di Beppo Italian restaurants. These restaurants are perfect for a large group celebration, as they are known for serving “family style”.

Enjoying time with family

Once you enter the establishment you immediately get into the “Italian” mood. The decor is one of those styles that uses every square inch of wall space, and in some rooms every inch of the ceiling!

Pictures and more pictures

Have dinner with the Pope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The menu has over 60 items from which to choose. The large bowls feed 6, while the small size is designed for 3. It is wonderful being able to decide which entrees, appetizers and salads to order. You can truly customize your meals, and with the family style serving, everyone can have a taste of whatever they like.

Apple Gorgonzola: Granny Smith apples, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries & Gorgonzola tossed with mixed lettuce in our signature Italian vinaigrette

Chicken with baby portobello mushrooms in a traditional Marsala wine reduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The food was delicious, served on time and hot! The bowls were full and gave everyone the chance to try all of the varieties.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo: Garlic shrimp & crushed red pepper with penne in spicy rosa sauce

Cheese Manicotti: pasta tubes filled with ricotta, mozzarella & Parmesan with Alfredo & our homemade marinara sauce

This restaurant was a perfect place to have a graduation celebration. You cannot beat good food at a comfortable restaurant, and of course having your family is the best blessing of all!

 

Good food and happy times at Everett Olive Garden

/ Roadtirementvintage / 15 Comments

Today Sher an I went with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson to see his final soccer game of the season at the YMCA. Done at 1:30PM, we were all ready for lunch, so off to the Everett, Washington Olive Garden we went.

Our favorite wine here, the Confetti Pink Moscato Rosé Wine

It had been several months since we had dined at an Olive Garden and our Seattle family also was looking forward to the cuisine. We were seated immediately and our server was at our table taking drink orders as soon as we were seated.

Zuppa Toscana, a spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale and russet potatoes in a creamy broth

Classic and tasty minestrone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The soups are all you can eat. Maj had two servings of the potato and sausage soup.

Maj had his favorite: spaghetti, meatballs and meat sauce

Sher ordered cheese ravioli with marinara sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cheese ravioli and Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo are both oven baked and come right from the oven on very hot plates. You are warned to be careful.

Daughter’s choice: Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo

And of course there is the never empty basket of warm bread sticks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all enjoyed our meals. The Olive Garden doesn’t please everyone, but we have never been disappointed at any one of these restaurants regardless of where in the country we have stopped. Consistency is something that makes dining choices a lot easier when you know what to expect.

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Lynnwood Washington

/ Roadtirementvintage / 17 Comments

The Old Spaghetti Factory is often referred to as a “family-friendly chain eatery featuring traditional Italian entrees amid turn-of-the-century decor.” The one in Alderwood Mall in Lynwood, Washington remains true to that description.

Trolley full of, and surrounded by tables

Close look at the seating in the trolley

 

 

 

 

 

We dined there with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson tonight. The decor is immediately impressive to see, and this location even has an old Seattle trolley car from 1970 in place and used for dining.

Warm bread flanked by our cocktails and a beer, center

We started with some great cocktails. Sher enjoyed the Strawberry Pomegranate Drop, a delightful blend of  pomegranate vodka, lime, strawberry puree and a splash of sweet & sour. Maj really liked the Blackberry Pomegranate Long Island Iced Tea, a traditional mix of gin and rum and pomegranate vodka with Triple Sec and added blackberry syrup and a splash of sweet & sour.

Spinach and Cheese Ravioli, filled with spinach and two cheeses, topped with marinara sauce.

Meat Lovers Treat with Sicilian meatballs, Italian sausage, spaghetti with hearty meat sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

The food at the Old Spaghetti Factory is just plain excellent. The portion sizes are most adequate. Both Sher and I enjoyed our choices, as did the rest of the family. Our grandson is a pasta fan, and he really enjoyed the bread and his spaghetti.

This was a wonderful meal with excellent service. Our server was a very nice young man named Gaige who took very good care of us. He was friendly and helpful in explaining the menu to us. His service added to what was a most enjoyable evening out with our family. We would definitely recommend The Old Spaghetti Factory. OSF.com is their website listing all locations.